The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was held in strict secrecy. Consequently, anxious citizens gathered outside Independence Hall when the proceedings ended in order to learn what had been produced behind closed doors. The answer was provided immediately. A Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia asked Benjamin Franklin, "Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded, "A republic, if you can keep it." ~ BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 1787

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

The White House on Tuesday denied there was any political interference in the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server after newly leaked emails showed discussions between a campaign aide and Department of Justice (DOJ) officials.

“Both the attorney general and the FBI director have made clear that the investigation of Secretary Clinton’s use of a private email server was conducted without regard to partisan politics,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters aboard Air Force One.

Earnest noted Attorney General Loretta Lynch and FBI Director James Comey made similar assertions while testifying to Congress under oath.

“They indicated that there was no influence from political actors on the investigation,” he said. “I’d rely on the public statements of individuals who are responsible to affirm the independence of that investigation.”

DEAF, DUMB AND BLINDThe spokesman would not comment on whether it was appropriate for Clinton campaign aides to communicate with DOJ officials while investigators tried to determine whether she had mishandled classified material on the personal server setup she used when she was secretary of State.

The message in question is a May 2015 email from Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon, who told other campaign aides that “DOJ folks” had informed him about an upcoming conference in an open records lawsuit related to Clinton’s private email server.

That suit is separate from the FBI's federal criminal probe, which concluded without charges against Clinton or her aides.

Republicans pointed to communication between Fallon and officials from the Justice Department, where he used to work, as evidence that the administration was in cahoots with the Clinton campaign.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus accused the Justice Department of giving the Clinton campaign “inside information about an ongoing investigation into her email server,” even though information regarding an upcoming court conference would have been public knowledge.

Still, Priebus said, the revelation shows that “instead of facing consequences for her actions like others have, she’s been protected at every turn by the Obama administration.”

The Fallon email was part of a trove allegedly stolen from Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta and posted Tuesday on Wikileaks.

“I am not going to comment directly on the stolen emails of a private citizen," Earnest said.